I've had a bit of a shock this morning. I turned on my computer and as usual, looked through my favourite blogs. It's always the first thing I do. To my surprise, Wrinkled Weasel has decided that due to lack of comments he has finished blogging for good. As his entry was written at 11.44pm, I'm hoping he'd had a few too many whiskys and will change his mind.I am really disappointed. I enjoyed reading his posts which are funny, witty, on occasions even serious, but they always made me smile. And that's the whole point surely? I know that there are only a few of us that read it and comment but we certainly were not doing it out of charity, we were doing it because we liked his posts.
On the other hand, I do understand his point about comments making us feel wanted. Wrinkled Weasel was one of the first people to comment on my blog when I first started out and it gave me encouragement and made me feel that someone out there was reading me.
Serious stuff aside, the real reason why I'm so disappointed is that I still haven't received the album 'Cheesy Continental Hits' as I was the winner of the crisp competition back in April. However, due to WW making inappropriate comments about my undergarments, I declined the prize and so it went to somebody else. After it all blew over and we made friends again, WW promised me I could still have it. I'm still waiting.
Blogging isn't always necessarily about gaining readership however, it's about expressing yourself, your opinions, your thoughts. Weasel, if you're reading this, I urge you to come back. You will be missed.
8 comments:
Nice one, ACT. And you're right: blogging has to be about personal enjoyment first and foremost. Still, for whatever reason, it's a shame to lose the Weas. Fingers crossed for his return.
Comment 9/20
ACT - I have thought a great deal about this over time. When I first started it was a window to the world to discuss things with others. All of whom I never would have met. In fact posts were sporadic, only when I felt like it.
But that has changed over time. It is not enough "just for me". I now write for others. I want to write things that people can use, perhaps something that stimulates them to think in a different way, or something that provokes emotions.
It is also great practice for a book. Raffaella has been encouraging me for years to go ahead and work on them seriously, and I always put it off, maybe this will give me the confidence to complete it.
I think I am writing something of value, obviously I could be presumptious, but when I see someone read 80+ pages perhaps there is some value for others.
My readers have changed, but still continue to grow. Most likely I would stop if I felt that people were not reading or did not find value.
Unfortunately a.c.t you cant make people reply to your posts but I can understand WW's frustration. I do tend to read a few blogs but only comment if I feel it is adding to the discussion. The obvious exception to this is Ginkers' blogs that I hijack with all manners of nonsense. But then he's known me for 25 years so I feel I can get away with it.
My own blog was set up purely to put a few ideas about Celtic up that anyone could read and if they wanted to leave a comment but I've realised I've had to expand that rather narrow topic and will undoubtedly waffle on about the Edinburgh Festival in August.
But yes it was great when you and Spangly Princess (and a few others) first paid a visit and left a comment. It does make you feel like you are doing something worthwhile.
If WW is reading this my advice would be to post on a few other blogs. The first thing I do if someone posts on mine is click on their name and visit their blog.
Martinobhoy, it does take a while to build up a readership, and once you know people are reading you, it gives you encouragement. I admit, it would be difficult to blog if I knew that nobody was reading it. Sometimes I write posts purely for myself and sometimes I write for an audience, it depends. I think it's good to get a balance. But I do also admire blogs like yours where you are writing on a subject you enjoy.
Travel, I agree with you, it's definitely good practice for writing a book which is why I started blogging. Even if what you write about is a different style to the book, it's always good to keep up the writing.
Asterisk and Hang the DJ, let's hope our Wease comes back even if it's only for a visit or two.
Hope you've got your footie shirt ready for tonight...
A.C.T., where are you?!?
Did you see the match? (Stupid question, of course you saw the match.)
Didn’t our boys do well? And to think they’re upset about Pessotto and everything...
Ahhh it was fantastic. Did you see Toni's lovely big smile after he scored? I'm not sure about wearing my shirt anymore, it seems to bring them bad luck. Roll on Germany....
it's true that getting comments is a great boost. The eternal human desire for external validation, I guess. I don't always comment on other people's posts, but I make an effort to do so if I fel I have anything remotely worth contributing, just to make people feel appreciated if nothing else.
I suppose I blog for a number of reasons, partly for myself as a kind of online diary, to keep track of where I am and what I'm up to (yes I know that manages to make me sound both vacant and self-obsessed) partly, initally at least, to keep certain friends and family a bit up to date given that we all live in different places. It's also a chance to pontificate without being interrupted ;-)
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